The Problem of Natural Evil – Part One

(This is a longer post than normal so you may want to read it in two settings)

I try not to make these blogs too teachy and try to avoid didactic language, but there comes a time when circumstances call me to go deeper and to call upon the little biblical training I have and the more extensive and subsequent studies I have undertaken through the years.

The presence of moral evil in the world is, while still difficult to explain, a little more easy to deal with than is the presence of what I call ‘natural evil’ (earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis etc). The recent disastrous earthquake in Haiti has caused a lot of questioning as to not only why such events occur, but what role do people play in bringing such things upon themselves?

As is often the case, the Bible is most helpful, and in particular the words of Jesus:

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)

In this passage, Jesus was faced with the same question that we are so often still faced with some 2,000 years later – do people suffer because they have done bad things?

You may have heard about the comments that Pat Robertson made on the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti – if not, you can see listen to them in context HERE. Firstly, I want to say that I have the utmost respect for Mr. Robertson – he is a man of wisdom and integrity and one who has led and influenced many, many people towards a deeper walk with God. Further, I do not judge His heart, for this is not my job – judgment belongs to God alone.

However, in referencing Haiti’s previous ‘pact with the devil’ and voodoo in connection with the Earthquake, Mr. Robertson was portraying some commonly held thinking:  that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people; it is an idea that can be found in just about every major religion of the world and one that is as old as paganism itself. Thankfully Jesus, in His unmatched wisdom, gives us the answer:

“…do you think they (those killed by the falling tower) were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish”

Or, put in a more modern day context I would add: do you think those Haitians are more guilty than the Dominicans (who live on the other side of the island and were untouched by the earthquake)? No.

The idea that good things happen to good people and that bad things befall those who are guilty of ‘worse’ sins, and that God judges those guilty of ‘worse’ sins troubles me on several levels:

1. It denies the concept of grace – the undeserved, unmerited favor of God

This favor that cannot be earned through our good works nor bought at any cost. The very idea that if I do good, God will bless me, but if I do bad then God will withdraw His blessing and, maybe, even send judgment upon me is contrary to the new covenant concept of grace.

However, it is not just perceived personal sin and righteousness to which people apply this principle, but many use the same idea on a nationalistic level.

I am reminded of the mindset that was present in Britain in the not too distant past which basically went like this: Britain was a Christian nation, therefore, God’s special favor and blessing rested upon us – we enjoyed freedom, prosperity and military strength as a result of God’s special blessing and, furthermore, it was our duty to bring our form of religion and government to other less ‘fortunate’ parts of the world. The blessings of economic prosperity, of civil government, democracy and ‘freedom’ were seen as a reflection of God’s special blessing upon our nation. We were a Christian nation, therefore God was blessing us.

2. The idea paints a picture of God that is inconsistent with the New Testament revelation of what He is like in Christ.

There is a remarkable conversation between Phillip and Jesus, recorded in John 14:

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (8-9).

Phillip was a 1st century Jew living in Palestine, and the only revelation of God had been through the Old Testament. I cannot help but wonder about the fact that Jesus looked and acted so differently to the God of the Old Testament, that it spurred the question, ‘show us the Father’ – He just looked so different from the God of the Old.

This would seem to be confirmed by the first few verses of the letter to the Hebrews 1:

Verse 1: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways

God had spoken through the prophets – He used obedient and godly people to communicate His heart and to pronounce judgment; God spoke many, many times and in a variety of ways in order that the hearts of sinful people would receive His word, turn from their sin and do His will

Verse 2: But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

But now, God sent His only Son, and spoke through Him, Christ Jesus, a new and better way – a way of grace, a way of love, a way of compassion, mercy and justice – where we are called to ‘love our enemies’, and to do good to those who mistreat us – a new covenant where God’s favor is not earned, but received through the free gift of His son.

Verse 3: The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

The phrase, ‘exact representation’ is from the Greek word, ‘charakter’ from which we get the English word, ‘character’, but here means, “the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect”

‘Being’ comes from the Greek word, ‘hupostasis’, meaning, “the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing.

The Greek is very forceful – Jesus is the exact representation of what God is like.

3. The view makes the atonement of Christ insufficient in dealing with people’s sin.

To suggest that bad things happen to certain people because their sins are deemed worse than others and to then suggest that God is judging them is to deny the fact that judgment for sin was made at the cross – indeed, I would go as far to say that to persist with this view that God is continually bringing judgment on people  is a denial of the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ for sin. The scriptures tell us that atonement for sin was made once and for all through Jesus’ death and resurrection (Heb 10:12). The cross is a place where ‘mercy triumphs over judgment’ (James 2:13).

A final judgment is indeed coming, when all who persist in their refusal of the offer of God’s forgiveness for sin will be judged. But until then, His offer of life through Christ is abundantly available to all – unearned, undeserved and unmerited.

On the next blog, I will talk more about why I believe natural evil (earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados etc) exist, and why God doesn’t do anything to stop them, with a final appeal to the majesty and mystery of God. Until then, what are your thoughts on this really difficult subject?

The First Resting Place

While the Bible does not specifically encourage me to celebrate the birth of Christ, I don’t think it is such a bad idea to thank God and remember the birth of His Son. However, when I consider the extravagant over commercialization of Christmas, I need to keep things in perspective, and God’s word helps me do this.

I was struck by one simple word from a very well-known portion of scripture:

Luke 2:4-6:

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

The Greek word for manger is ‘phatne’ which literally means ‘feeding trough’. The Son of God, through whom all things were made (John 1:3), finds His first resting place on earth in an animal feeding trough.

I will never forget the day I saw the Queen of England in person, all be it from a distance. They had built and were about to open a new public swimming baths in our neighborhood, and the Queen had agreed to cut the red ribbon and declare the baths officially ‘open’. I will never forget the amount of security that surrounded her visit and the amount of anticipation at the arrival of such royalty  – I mean, it’s about once in a couple of generations that Royalty sets foot in an area like the one in which I grew up. It was good to see her in my normal surroundings given that most images I had seen of the queen up to that point were ceremonial and involved lots and lots of  pageantry.

The arrival of the King of Heaven, Jesus, to earth was a little different. There was no pageantry, no tight security or ceremony; no spectacle of opulent display, just a mother, a father and a baby laid in an animal’s feed trough that would one day save all those who trust in His name. From that point onwards, the life and teaching of Jesus would be marked by humility, service and self-sacrificial love.

My prayer is that the image of the Messiah, the Savior, being laid to rest in a feeding trough would cause me to pause…and consider just how much of my life is an imitation of the One whose example I am called to reflect every day.

Beautiful Mary

As a protestant Christian, I have often felt uncomfortable bringing up the topic of Mary – I am not sure why – I mean, no one has ever directly told me to not talk about Mary, but I just have this ingrained sense that I am not supposed to talk about her too much – after all, she was just a woman, right?

Mary is actually one of my favorite people in the Bible, and regardless of the fact that she has been overly venerated, and even worshipped, by some Christian denominations, she was an incredible woman of faith and one from whom I can learn much.

Since Mary is one of my favorite Biblical people, her song as recorded in the book of Luke, chapter one is also one of my favorite found in the scriptures – here is an exert:

“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.” (Luke 1:52-54)

Most Jews were expecting a Messiah figure in the likeness of David – the prophet, priest, King. And while Jesus as Messiah fulfilled all of these roles, I believe it was their perception of His role as King that caused the Jews of His day to question Him often and to eventually reject and crucify Him.

The Jews were expecting a Messiah that would be a military type leader – one who would overthrow the oppressive Roman rule and bring economic, political and social freedom to Israel. Instead, Jesus’ entire life, from His birth in the most humble of circumstances and His growing up as the son of a carpenter from Nazareth in Galilee, to the way He conducted His three year earthly ministry – serving those He came to save, through to His death on a cross, all pointed towards a Messiah quite unlike the one that had been expected.

Let alone a military figure, Jesus never once took up the sword.

Jesus spent his entire ministry loving the unlovable, dining with the sinful, extending mercy to those rejected by the religious order of His day and healing all who were sick and oppressed by the devil. And when asked by Philip, ‘Jesus, show us the Father (John 14:8), Jesus’ reply is so revelatory: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?”

I can’t help but think that Philip’s question was based on the fact that, as a Jew, he had a view of God that was fashioned by the Old Testament, and the God being revealed in the person of Christ was just, well, different, such that it caused Philip to ask, ‘show us the Father’.

And Mary gets it. She gets it long before the unveiling of Jesus’ Public ministry and, indeed, before He is even born. She sees the Messiah not as some military figure ready to lead an uprising against the oppressive Romans, but as a savior that will ‘exalt those of humble estate’.

Even those who had been with Him the longest and were closest to Him are found asking a question that seems odd considering the amount of teaching they had received from Jesus and how they witnessed His life and ministry. Such was the radicalism of Jesus: the way to greatness is to become the least; the way to gain wealth is to give it away; the poor and the humble will be exalted, the rich and prideful will be brought low. The way I overcome an enemy is through love, and the way I treat others is the same way I want to be treated myself.

As Mary rejoiced at the fact that the Father had chosen her to bare the child that would one day save the world, she spoke words of Old Testament prophecy that would predict the kind of Messiah Jesus would be – a king who came to serve and to lay His life down for all people, even His enemies.

That makes Mary pretty special.

Whatever Happened To Mystery?

I have a love hate relationship with the internet. I mean, I love that I can access it at any time of the day or night and search for any piece of information I need or want, but I have been asking myself lately – is this really a good thing? It seems like there is virtually nothing I cannot find on the internet within seconds.

Along with the internet, we’ve had the emergence of 24 hour cable TV news over the last decade or so, where we can switch on at any time and be instantly transported to any news event happening around the world.

I was fascinated recently by the news story that has been labeled ‘Balloon Boy’- the incidence of a father who had built a helium balloon as an experiment for his boys, who then proceeded to call 911 in order to report one of his boys missing, stating that he thought the boy was inside the balloon that had broken free from its moorings. For the next 6 hours, rescuers chased the balloon while the 24 hour cable TV shows reported the chase.

As it turns out, it could have all been a hoax (we’ll have to wait and see), but the more interesting thing for me is the fact that the cable news channels were actually reporting for several hours on, well, absolutely nothing. There was a puzzled air of disbelief that no answers were forthcoming as to the boy’s whereabouts and safety. As Linda Holmes pointed out, it seems we have an insatiable desire to know everything.

I, for one, am thankful that life is still filled with mystery, despite the attempts of the internet and cable TV news to suggest otherwise.

I will never forget the loss of 3 babies to miscarriage – suffering deep grief and loss not just once, but three times in the space of a few years was more than we could bear. As we reached out to God for answers and none were forthcoming, our faith in the goodness and faithfulness of God was being tested. And yet, through it all, and by His grace, I never charged the Lord with wrong, for I know that He is good, that He is love and that His plans towards us are always to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11).

The mystery of why babies are lost may never be known. Maybe there is some deep and technical, chemical or biological reason that will be revealed some day, maybe not. Isaiah 55:9 says that I worship a God whose ways are not my ways, whose thoughts are above my thoughts, and yet His will has been revealed – just enough, nothing more and nothing less, for us to serve and follow Him in this world (1 Corinthians 2:10).

There are those who try to explain some of the deep mysteries of the world, like why hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis kill thousands, and while I know that the creation has been subject to decay because of the sin of man (Romans 8), and that Satan and evil are real, still some try to attribute a divine connection to such events – some divine message or lesson that God is teaching through it all. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. I am content with the mystery.

Mystery reminds me of my limited ability to comprehend the complexities of life and the universe and, ultimately, the One who is behind it all, and causes me to trust Him, by faith.

I’m glad the cable news channels were unable to tell me what was happening, if but for a few hours, because in those few hours maybe there was a God above and beyond it all, reminding me that He not only knew where the boy was hiding, but that He fully comprehends every mystery I will ever deal with because it is by, through and for Christ that everything was created:

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossian 1:13-16)

Washing The Feet Of Judas

“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love…so (Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (Jesus) knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.”

This is an excerpt from John 13, you can read the whole chapter HERE. I was reading this portion of scripture recently, one I have read many times but I have never noticed the sequence of the text – Jesus knew that Judas was the one who was going to betray Him, but Jesus still washed his feet.

According to Hebrews 1:3, Jesus is the exact representation of what God is like, and here we see Him washing the feet of the one who would betray Him. Stunning.

There are Christians all over the world today who are facing the most horrendous persecution, so much so that I don’t even feel qualified to blog on this subject as I sit in a safe, comfortable building with complete freedom to worship. And yet God meets me where I am at, and calls me to incarnate the radical message of His Kingdom in my everyday life.

I received an E-Mail recently from a person that was, if I am really honest, just plain mean. I would like to say that my initial heart response was one of blessing and love towards this person, but it was not. I am a work in process, of this I am certain.

As an example of the extent of Jesus’ love, He washed His disciples feet which, in first century Palestine with its hot and dusty conditions and the lack of footwear, was one of the most humbling things one could do for another person. But Jesus did not just wash His disciples’ feet; He washed the feet of the one He knew would betray Him. This astounds me.

And it convicts me deeply, as I consider my responses to those around me – even people who read this blog and do not necessarily agree with my views on certain things – do I respond in love? And what is my response to those who mistreat me, even  those who think ill of me and even wish me harm?

Jesus washed the feet of His betrayer and as He did so, He was washing mine also, for I deserve a place in the deepest hell for the sins I have committed…along with Paul, I am ‘the worst  of all sinners’ (1 Tim 1:15). How much more should I, who has been forgiven so much, love others with the same kind of love with which He loves me.

There is a growing number of Christ followers  who are hungry to return to a biblical imitation of the One who was God in the flesh, Jesus – the very essence and substance of the Father. For too long I have been one who has obeyed Christ’s teachings, stopping short of a  radical and often dangerous imitation of Christ.

I ask myself -  what does it take for me to imitate Christ in the way I am told (Ephesians 5:1) )…I mean, right now, I do not suffer persecution on anywhere near the level of many around the world; I do not suffer hunger and poverty at the hands of an oppressor and neither do I have to meet with other believers in secret for fear of being arrested and tortured. But I am still called to imitate Jesus wherever He has called me.

Jesus washed the feet of Judas. Do I?

Rebelling Against The Culture Of Revenge

I continue to be stunned by the radical life Christ calls us into, and I recently found myself once again reading the amazing Sermon on the Mount where Jesus set out so many kingdom principles.

Matthew 5:38-39

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Luke’s account of the sermon on the plain is similar in structure, sequence and thought to Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount. However, Luke omits a lot of the detail that would have made sense to the Hebrew recipients of Matthew’s gospel account:

Luke 6:27-29:

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also…do to others as you would have them do to you.”

The pattern of this world has taught me to retaliate towards those who have brought me harm and the ‘get even’ culture rages within me. I sense that the principle of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ is still, at times, alive and well.

In his seminal work, ‘The Politics of Jesus’, John Howard Yoder pointed out that in Matthew 5:39, the Christ-follower is to, ‘suffer the renunciation of retaliation in kind’, (Page 202, note 14).

Yoder points out that Jesus is not necessarily calling me to stand by idly while people abuse or trample over me, but rather that I should resist responding in like-manner, lest I become like the person who is committing the wrongdoing.

Jesus calls me to forgive, which at times can be really difficult,  nevertheless I must resist the urge to retaliate ‘eye for eye’, while considering this an act of ‘self-renunciation’, such is the strength of natural urge for retribution. And when retaliation is replaced by forgiveness, I enter into the same, self-giving and loving lifestyle modeled by Christ.

It seems to me that there are broadly two forms of retribution that I struggle with – open/active or hidden/passive.

Open or active retribution is the more obvious, like when I seek direct payback or vengeance for a wrong that has been committed against me. Thankfully, as I grow in my faith and become more like Christ, I hope this is a rarity.

However, I believe there is a much more subtle and hidden form of vengeance with which I can sometimes struggle. This shows itself in variations, for instance, when I see a person in a grocery store with whom I have had a previous disagreement or who has treated me unfairly in the past – upon seeing them from a distance, I may try to avoid them, choose a different aisle to walk down and generally wish they were not around. Or, another example could be someone in the office who has been unkind or just bothered me in some way, and when I see them I look down, look the other way or offer a simple ‘hi’, when deep inside my thoughts towards them are not good.

When I withhold myself from another person as a result of wrongs (perceived or otherwise) that have happened, this is passive retribution.

Paul picks up on Jesus’ radical teaching to not return wrong with wrong, encouraging us to live at peace with all people, while leaving any sense of vengeance to God, who alone is truly just:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:15-17).

I will never forget the shooting at an Amish School house in Pennsylvania about 3 years ago, when an armed gun man entered a school building, took several children hostage and began shooting them; 5 were killed and 5 others critically injured. The gunman then turned the gun on himself, dying instantly. One of the grandfathers of the slain children was reported as saying, “We must not think evil of this man.” Another Amish father noted, “He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he’s standing before a just God”

While the world’s media largely overlooked this amazing response of love, forgiveness and dependence on God for ultimate justice in the face of diabolical violence and injustice, the Amish community was living out their convictions of following the literal teachings of Jesus.

This convicts me deeply. I ask myself – if the father of a slain little girl can respond with such forgiveness, how much more should I respond in like manner as I interact with the people in my own life.

The kingdom of God is upside down – the teachings of Christ are so often in direct contradiction to the patterns of this world that I find myself having to constantly return to the gospels if I am to continue being an Imitator of Christ.

The God Who Knows Me

My two oldest boys and I took a two hour bike ride down the Papio Creek trail today.  It was a near perfect weather day, about 80F, blue sky and low humidity. The trail was not too busy and so it made for a really peaceful ride.

Most of the trail is shaded by tress, with lots of twists and turns as it traverses back and forth from the creek, through neighborhoods and underneath major roads. About half way into the ride, we turned a corner and I could see a large, muddy puddle up ahead. Luke was in front, he is nine years old, followed by Liam who is six.

As we approached the puddle, I knew that Luke would do everything he could to avoid it – he is not given to getting messy or taking risks, and that’s exactly what he did as he swerved to avoid getting wet. However, Liam is quite a different character and I knew he would do just the opposite, and as he headed straight for the puddle I wondered if he would get stuck in the mud and fall off the bike – well, he didn’t, but he thoroughly enjoyed getting wet and muddy in the process.

I am getting to know my boys quite well, to the point that I can make a fairly good guess what decisions they will make.

I have been comforted many times through the years by the beautiful truths found in Psalm 139, which expresses the depth of the Lord’s intimate knowledge of me.  Verses 2-4 are especially striking:

You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD

God knows me so intimately, that he discerns my every thought and every word before I even utter it. This brings me incredible comfort. God knows me better than I even know myself  which causes me to want to place complete and total trust in Him for every decision I have to make.

However, I know that for some people the thought that God knows everything about us can be a little unnerving. However, when I consider God’s perfect knowledge of me in light of His unconditional grace and mercy, and that I know every intent of His heart toward me is nothing but love, it causes me to trust Him all the more.

Do you know God?  I have found that He is not some distant, far off deity, but a personal, loving Father who desires to be known.

I am getting to know my kids daily, but the best thing I could ever do for them is get to know the eternal Father – and as I grow in my relationship  with Him, my prayer is that they would also grow in their knowledge and love of their perfect Father.

Luther And The Animals

I have written several blogs on the mistreatment of animals. Indeed, I think the way we treat animals is often a reflection of how we are doing as a race. Sadly, it seems that we are not doing so good. The horrors of factory farming continue, where animals (especially pigs and chickens) are reared in horrible, factory-like conditions, where they see no daylight for an entire (extremely shortened) life-span, and where complete disregard for their welfare is common place. Where animals who feel pain and have compassion on their own kind are treated as units for profit.

90-95% of the meat consumed in America comes from factory farms.

This whole subject was brought to the fore once again for me when I came across some beautiful statements from a rather important and influential figure from church history – Martin Luther.

While commenting on the fact that animals have compassion on one another where humans often do not, he said:

“Wild beasts and irrational animals keep this law. When a pig is slaughtered or captured and other pigs see this, we observe that the other pigs clamor and grunt as if in compassion. Chickens and geese and all wild animals do the same thing; when they see one of their own kind in trouble, they quite naturally grieve with it and are sad, and if they can, they help it. Only man, who after all is rational, does not spring to the aid of his suffering neighbor in time of need and has no pity on him. What a shame and scandal!” (Luther’s sermons 1)

In this next statement, Luther sees animals as portals of higher spiritual truths:

“We are to remember that animals are God’s creation, that He provides for them (Matt. 6), and that they may serve as very fitting images for higher spiritual truths, most especially truths about how the Kingdom of God comes (Luke 15:3-7; John 10). They are not to be treated with cruelty, but received as God’s good gifts over which He has placed us as stewards (Gen. 1:28) (Commentary on Luke)

And here he sees the imprint of the divine upon all animals:

“The sun warms; but it would bring nothing into being unless God said by His divine power: ‘Let a mouse come out of the decay.’ Therefore the mouse, too, is a divine creature. . . . [F]or its kind it has a very beautiful form…” (Commentary on Genesis 1-5).

And while Luther’s comments  in ‘Table Talk’ are not regarded by some as his most reliable words, still this next statement is most remarkable:

“”It follows not, that because God created all things, we must eat of all things. Fruits were created chiefly as food for people and for beasts; the latter were created to the end we should laud and praise God.” (Table Talk of Martin Luther, CXXXI).

Luther’s thoughts are reflected in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s statement on ‘Man and Animals’:

“We are to remember that animals are God’s creation, that He provides for them (Matt. 6), and that they may serve as very fitting images for higher spiritual truths, most especially truths about how the Kingdom of God comes (Luke 15:3-7; John 10). They are not to be treated with cruelty, but received as God’s good gifts over which He has placed us as stewards (Gen. 1:28)

Good stuff.

I do not eat meat, but my wife and kids do. However, they would class themselves as ‘conscientious omnivores’. We all recognize that God created animals for His and our pleasure, and that His intention from the beginning was that we would treat them with the same mercy and compassion with which He treats us.

If you live here in Omaha, Hy-Vee’s, ‘Just Bare’ chicken is meat that has been treated with compassion; all the meat at Whole Foods is treated well, and if you want to take it a step further, the Nebraska Food Co-operative is a conglomerate of local farmers where animals are treated with compassion.

Don’t get me wrong – I am not against farming per se, but as a follower of Christ, the practices of factory farming alarm me. If you have not viewed this video yet, take a look. It is fairly mild, no ‘shock horror’ value at all, but a revealing look at the industry.

I can’t help but wonder, given the statements from Luther above, what his response would be to such a video, given his obvious love for animals. Followers of Christ have always meant to look different from the culture in which we live, and this is one really simple yet profound way I can set myself apart from a factory farming system which sees animal life as nothing more than units for profit.

Luther loved animals. God loves animals. Factory farming tortures animals. 95% of meat consumed comes from factory farms.

Peace.

Insiders and Outsiders

Luke 18:9-15:

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about  himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus taught in parables a lot, and one common theme that runs through several is this: those who think they are on the inside are actually on the outside, and those who think they are on the outside are actually on the inside. And Jesus’ parable about the tax collector and the Pharisee is one such example – or put more pointedly, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”(verse 14).

The last 4 or 5 blogs created quite a bit of feedback, and the subject of Homosexuality is one which evidently stirs up a lot of strong feeling – on both sides of the argument.

I have spent the greater part of the last 17 years of my walk with Christ being very convinced that I am an insider – that I am saved and ‘in’ and, conversely, thinking that I was pretty sure about who else was ‘in’ and who was ‘out’. And those who deal with same sex attraction have definitely fallen within the ‘outsider/not saved’ category.

I have been guilty of looking at the splinter (sin) in another’s eye, while ignoring the log (bigger sin) in my own. Tony Campolo recently made this amazing statement: “we have said for years, ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’, but Jesus taught, ‘love the sinner, hate the sin in your own life’”. I have spoken with several recently who have tried to get around this logic, such is our insatiable desire to judge.

Anyway, I am getting off subject a little. The above parable teaches me that God looks at the heart of a person, and while the outside may not look perfect (or even righteous) to me, only God knows the condition of a person’s heart – he sees humility and contriteness where I cannot.

I recently attended a church where there were several gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people in attendance – all worshipping Jesus. It was my first such experience, being gathered with a bunch of people who were not only not of the same sexual orientation, but who claim to love the same God I love. As I worshipped Jesus and  prayed with these folks, there was one overwhelming impression that I came away with – an awareness of deep and profound humility.

These are people who have been abandoned by their families, rejected by (most of) the church, discriminated against in their work place and shunned by just about every facet of society – all treatment which could either lead to deep bitterness or real brokenness and humility. I experienced the latter, and according to the scriptures, these are qualities becoming of someone who claims to love Jesus.

Regardless of one’s theological stance on certain key scriptures regarding homosexuality, my experience among GLBT people is at very least changing my pre (and ill) conceived homophobic ideas about what GLBT people are like  – people trying to figure out life and trying to work out their walk of faith.

I wonder if many of the people who have commented on this series of blogs actually know a GLBT person. I intend  no judgment here – I am truly curious, because once  I get to know a person,  I tend to cease  seeing them as a behavior that needs to be fixed and start to see them as someone seeking to be loved – just like me.

It is time to elevate the conversation, and start loving like Jesus loved, lest I be found guilty of Pharisaical haughtiness and not tax collector humility.

Trying to listen, learn and love.

NOTE – Please read comment guide to the right. If you have a question that goes something like ‘is homosexuality a sin…’ please read the other blogs and their comment streams for discussion on this subject.

More Thoughts – Homosexuality And The Church

The journey continues.

The most common idea expressed from the comment sections on the previous 4 blogs on this subject goes something like this: I agree with everything you are saying, but at the end of the day, homosexuality is a sin just like any other.

I know that many who commented are trying to figure all this out just like me, but the problem we face is that we are trying to figure it out within our own sociological and cultural framework; if we are to ever enter into a conversation or even understand the experiences of, for example, a gay or lesbian person, we must step outside of ourselves.

Jesus consistently stepped out of his normal social group in order to reach those on the outskirts of that society – in order to show the love and compassion that we know marked His ministry, He  dwelt with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners. While I am NOT comparing GLBT people with these 1^st century social groupings, where the commonality lies is that these were three groups of people that had been completely ostracized by the religious community of His day. Sound familiar? And while he spoke truth to some of these people, it was not until they were utterly convinced of His love and compassion.

Not only do we need to step outside our own societal confines, but we need to do it with noticeable, tangible and authentic acts of love. As Kevin said on the last blog comment thread:

“Love without action is like electricity never plugged in to – it exists in potential only.”

It seems that we are so concerned with speaking truth rather than living out love – but we find a way to justify it thus:  the most loving thing to do is speak that truth (as we understand it) – up front and immediately. I think we are all trying to learn and I want to think the best, because I used to be in this place, but for me, I think it was a smoke screen. As Kevin said, ‘many people are wary to love ‘too much’ and not ’speak the truth’. Why is that even a concern if you are acting in love?”

Jesus went to the cross for me – how far will I go for others?

“If you are filled with the love of God for others, you will act and respond and converse and discuss topics (even controversial topics!) in a way where what you say, how you say it and how you live convey the deep sense of worth each person was shown by God on the Cross.”

Think about it – we are to treat every person in such a way that conveys God’s incredible love  and incalculable worth for every individual.

Psalm 110: 3 says that “(God) does not treat us as our sins deserve’. As we acknowledge that ‘all have sinned (Romans 3:23), I ask myself – do I treat others the way God treats me, or do I treat them the way I think they deserve? For me to treat anyone with anything less than the same grace and acceptance that God shows towards me, the one who died for me ‘while I was yet a sinner’, is at best inauthentic and, at worst, hypocritical.

When we put up prerequisites to being accepted by Christ and His body, what we are essentially saying is you can be a part of us if you think and become like us – you can even thrive if you are willing to give up your identity. But while the giving up of identity (the ‘self’ discussed in the blog below), is at the heart of the Christian life, to ask a person to give up their identity before they are even given the chance to the see the beautiful alternative, Christ Himself formed in us, is unrealistic.

And while on the topic of identity – why, with this one behavior, do we equate behavior with identity? Christians do not do this with any other behavior we consider less than God’s prefect will. We ignore the fact that Jesus spoke much more strongly about divorce (He did not even mention homosexuality), and that the rate of divorce in the church has now outstripped that of all others. Think about it.

Finally, I want to address what I call ‘The Burning House Analogy’. It basically goes like this: if you see someone in a basement with the house above her on fire, will you not do everything you can, quickly and immediately, in order to save her from the fire? There are other similar analogies that attempt the same logic – basically, that we have a duty to share God’s truth with people immediately in order to save them from hell.

There are several struggles I have with this kind of argument. Firstly, it puts me in the place of trying to convert people to Christ – this is not my job, this is the work of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, it puts me in the presumptive position where I claim to know (often within minutes of meeting someone) where a person is at in their faith walk. I must realize that God alone sees into the depths of a person’s heart and that I need to relinquish the temptation to see myself as the sole person responsible for a person’s soul.

We need to leave space for God to move. And I know I mentioned this in a previous blog, but it is so central – we need to get over the fact that to validate a person’s life experience through listening and learning does not necessarily equate with the affirmation of a gay theological view of scripture.

If you are straight, gay or lesbian, I hope that these blogs are helping in some small way to bring us closer together to a point where we can at least have a civil conversation, because up until now, it has just not been happening.

If you would like to leave a comment, please see guide to the right.

Peace.